Improved explosive compound



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WILLIAM MILLS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, G. A. LIL- LIENDAHL, AND J. J. DETWILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 96,248, dated October 26, 1869.

IMPROVED EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the name.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM MILLs, of New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Oompounds; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and important improvement in the composition of compounds of an explosive character, designed as a substitute for gunpowder, and for other explosive compounds, used for similar purposes; and. consists in the combination and use of the ingredients hereinafter named, in any desired proportions to adapt it to the purposes for which it may he intended.

In the following description the proportions named are suitable for a compound of much greater explosive power than ordinary gunpowder; but my invention consists in the use and combination of certain sub stances, without regard to the proportions or manner of combination.

In carrying out my invention, I take one part, by weight, of crude carbolic acid, and pass it in small quantities at a time into five parts, by weight, of nitric acid, (45 Baums acid-hydrometer,) contained in a glass flask or retort, of sntficient capacity to hold at least ten times the quantity.

\Vhen the action, which is at first violent, has subsided, I place the whole on a sand-bath, and submit it to a heat of 200 Fahrenheit for about two hours, or so long a time as it may take for the red fumes (deutoxide of nitrogen) to cease beingevolved.

1 then add five parts more of nitric acid, of the same strength as before named, and again submit it to heat until chemical action is no longer susceptible.

. It is then neutralized with pptassa, baryta, or their carbonates.

' When quite cold, the pasty mass is spread on slate to dry.

I afterwards add cape aloes, in solution, in quantity sutlicient to supply the deficiency of the carbon-elementof the mixture.

The approximating quantity for this purpose is about one-sixth part of the whole when dry.

This compound does not ignite more readily than gunpowder, while it possesses four times its explosive power.

It may be readily granulated and adapted to firearms, and for other purposes, especially for blasting, as its explosive power is nearly equal to that of nitroglycerine, while it may be transported and handled with as much safety as common gunpowder.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In the formation of an explosive compound, the combination otcarbolicacid, nitric acid, pottassa, and aloes, sul'Jstanti-ally as and for the purposes described.

2. The use of carbolic acid in an explosive compound, substantially as described.

3. The use 'ofaloes in an explosive compound, substantially as described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this 16th day ofApril, 1869.

Witnesses:

FRANK BLOCKLEY, ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

\VM. MILLS. 

